Index-tab.



w. E. HARROD. INDEX TAB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27 1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Fa/rad ZflaZZerE Wilma:

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

WALTER E. HARROD, OF HARROD, OHIO.

INDEX-TAB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. HARROD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrod, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Index-Tabs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to index tabs for books of various kinds such as ledgers, loose leaf systems and the like; and it has for its object to produce a tab equipped with a plurality of numbered plates which may refer to different pages, to diiferent accounts or to other sub-divisions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tab with a plurality of movable numbered plates, any one or more of which may be displaced or moved out of sight when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described with means whereby a plurality of movable plates may be simultaneously restored to initial position, thus greatly facilitating the replacement of the numbered plates.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the Construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being however understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing: Figure l is a plan view showing the improved index tab attached to the edge of a leaf. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the near side member of the casing having been removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. iis a view illustrating in perspective specimens of the sliding frames used in connection with the device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the numbered plates, detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27, 1909.

guided for longitudinal movement.

' Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 514.915.

The frame or casing of the improved index tab is formed of two flat pieces, A and A, of thin sheet metal, celluloid, or other suitable material, said pieces or side members being preferably of substantially rectangular shape, and each being provided with a laterally extending flap 6, the said side members are also provided with oppositely disposed longitudinal extensions 7, the extension 7 of one side member being disposed adjacent to the flap 6 and connected with the upper side edge of the member while the extension 7 of the opposite side member is connected with the lower edge and is located adjacent to the flap 6. The extensions 7 are provided with down turned flanges 8 affording guides wherein slides 9 may be supported; said slides being inscribed with letters constituting a part of the index system, as shown. It will be observed that the slides 9 are faced in opposite directions, and it is obvious that similar index letters or characters are to be inscribed upon the two slides so as to be visible at opposite sides of the tab.

The side members A and A are connected together by fastening members such as rivets 10, said side members being spaced apart by frames C of the construction substantially illustrated in Fig. 4; each of said frames being composed of a sheet of metal or other suitable material having a plurality of elongated rectangular openings 11, and each of said frames being also provided with a pin or plug 12 extending transversely therethrough and through elongated slots or apertures 13 in the side members A and A between which the said frames may thus be Additional guides for the frames 0 may be formed by the rivets or-fastening members 10 which may be arranged to engage longitudinal slots, as shown at 14: in Fig. 4 in said frames.

The side members A and A are provided each with a plurality of apertures 15 which, although formed in registry with the apertures 11 in the frames O, are smaller than said apertures 11; the latter are adapted to accommodate small rectangular plates 16 formed of thin sheet metal, such as alumi num or other suitable material; each of said plates 16 being longitudinally slidable in one of the apertures 11. Each of the plates 16 is also provided with a pin or plug 17 extending transversely therethrough and through registering slots in the plates or side members A and A, said slots being designated 18. The pins 17 are made to project slightly beyond the faces of the 5 plates or side members A and A so as to be conveniently accessible for any desired adjustment of the plates 16 which latter are inscribed upon their opposite sides or faces 7 with numbers or reference characters form- 1O ing part of the index system. These numbers or characters, as will be obvious are to be the same on opposite sides, and will be plainly visible through the apertures in the side members of the casing when the 15 plates 16 are in registry with said apertures; it will be understood however that any one or more of the plates 16 may be moved out of registry with the apertures 15, by moving the pin 1 longitudinally of the slot 18; 20 the displacement of any one of the plates being instantaneously visible by leaving the opposite apertures 15 unobstructed. The plates 16 will be safely retained in the various positions to which they may be adjusted by frictional contact with the side members A and A which latter may be secured together as tightly as may be desired.

The slots 11 in the frames O are to be of such dimensions that the plates 16 may be displaced longitudinally out of registry with the apertures 15 without affecting the positions of said frames C, and it is equally obvious that the plates may be individually restored to initial position, when desired. 5 Sometimes however, a plurality of plates will have been displaced at one time, and when this is the case all of such lates may be simultaneously restored to initial position by the longitudinal movement of the frame O 40 in the slots of which such plates are mounted. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The improved index tab may be conveniently attached to a leaf D by fastening members such as rivets 19 extended through the flaps 6 between which the edge of the leaf has been previously inserted as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The device will be found effective and useful for index systems for loose-leaf ledgers and loose-leaf systems generally as .well as for ledgers and other books of various descriptions; it is simple, inexpensive, easily applied, and it may be easily transferred from one book to another if it should be found desirable to do so.

The frame C, it will be observed constitutes a resetting device for the numbered plates 16, any one or more of which having been displaced out of registry with the apertures in the sides of the casing may be reset or replaced by a single movement of said frame, even if all of the individual plates controlled by said resetting frame have been displaced from registry with the sight apertures. It is further obvious that when the frame C is left in the position to which it is carried in the act of resetting the plates, it may be left temporarily in such position since the displacement of any one of the plates will move the frame G to a non-obstructing position with reference to the remainder of the plates controlled thereby.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. An index tab for books comprising side members provided with registering sightapertures, said side members being also provided with leaf engaging extensions, plates bearing similar reference characters on opposite sides thereof, said plates being supported slidably in the casing in longitudinal and transverse series and movable in or out of registry with the sight apertures through which said plates are visible from both sides of the casing, and resetting means whereby a plurality of plates may be simultaneously moved into registry with the sight apertures.

2. In an index tab for books, a casing having side members provided with leaf engaging extensions and with registering sight apertures, a slotted frame supported slid- 5 ably between the sides of the casing, and index plates confined within the slotted frame between the sides of the casing and slidable between the sides of the casing independently of the frame.

3. In an indicator, a casing comprising side members having extensions adapted to receive a book leaf therebetween, said casing having sight openings, in'd'ex plates movably supported with reference to the sight openings, and plate setting means movable with reference to the index plates and independently movable with reference to the casing.

1. In a device of the character described, a casing having a'pertured side members consisting of fiat thin plates provided with lateral extensions for the reception of a book leaf therebetween, aresetting device consisting of a frame guided between the side members of the casing and having a longitudina'l slot, connecting means for the side members of the casing extending through said slot, and index plates movably supported between the side members of the casing and independently sli'dable within the confines of the resetting frame and capable of being moved in one direction by means of said resetting frame.

5. In a device of the character described,

a casing comprising apertured side members having laterally extending flaps, longitudinally slotted frames interposed between the side members, plates movable in the slots of the frames, means for effecting longitudinal adjustment of the plates and the frames, and connecting means extending through the side members and serving to guide the frames for longitudinal movement.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising apertured side members having longitudinal slots and laterally extending leaf engaging flaps, said side members being provided with flanged extensions, slides engaging said flanged extensions, frames interposed between the side members of the casing and having pins extending through the slots therein whereby saidl frames may be moved longitudinally, an

plates fitted for sliding movement in the slots of the frames and having reference 15 characters visible through the apertures in the casing, said plates being provided with adjusting pins extending through the slots in the side members of the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER E. HARROD.

Witnesses M. L. JOHNSTON, WV. H. CUSTER. 

